Communication is Key For Senators’ D.J. Smith

At the conclusion of last season, Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle went to bat for their head coach when Ottawa Senators general manager Pierre Dorion didn’t immediately announce that D.J. Smith was returning for the 2023-24 campaign.

“From my experience, I wouldn’t be in my position if it wasn’t for D.J. He’s given me so many opportunities to become the player I am, but also the person and leader that I am. He’s been a huge influence. He’s given me so much opportunity,” said Tkachuk at the April 15 presser.

“Timmy said it perfectly, a lot of us young guys wouldn’t be in our positions if it wasn’t for him. I believe he’s the coach for us. We all love playing for him. He makes our team just that much better. I firmly believe 100% that we have all the belief in him that he’s the coach for us.”

Having played junior hockey, 419 American League games, including stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Colorado Avalanche, Smith has drawn on experiences from each of his previous coaches both positive and negative to navigate how to communicate with today’s players.

“I think today’s coach-player relationship is certainly different than it was. For me anyway, my line of communication is constantly open. We’re here for the same goal. And I think maybe back in the day or so the old-school approach would have been I’m going to tell you and you just do it. Whereas for me, this is about us and not them or me. We have to be ready to go so I’m going to work with them to get them at their best. And we’re in this thing together. You know if I feel that they’re not ready, I’m certainly going to make them play again. But my goal is to make sure that they’re ready,” Smith explained during Senators Fan Fest last weekend.

“I think certainly playing and having coaches that didn’t communicate and didn’t talk to you has helped me as a coach for sure. I think I want to be as honest as possible at all times.”

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Having been a bubble player during his entire professional playing career, Smith is certainly aware of what today’s players are going through when it comes to permanently cracking an NHL roster and how to stay positive if they’re sent to the AHL for further seasoning.

“I remember you know I got called up when I was 19, Cliff Fletcher was the general manager. That summer Cliff Fletcher got fired and all of a sudden you’re not one of the kids that’s part of the new plan. You know, the new general manager bringing his own guys in.  I was upset to get sent down and at 20 years old, you think you were ready, I was nowhere close to ready. And then I went on to be a journeyman AHLer until I finally made it in Colorado, and then retired with concussions. But I was that guy, that you know came right to the very end (of the preseason) that got played every year in the so-called American League lineup game. So I know what it’s like to be those guys, and obviously, I’m pulling for them. I know exactly what it is. But at the end of the day, I have a job to do and I have to pick the best one.”

It’s not easy to assign a youngster to the AHL. Smith wants players to realize it’s all part of the process of becoming an NHL regular.

“Looking back at something, that has to happen. You’re not ready. And you know, you keep a kid in the NHL when he’s not ready, you’re gonna break him. You don’t come to the game to the NHL to gain confidence. You’re only gonna lose it up here. So you know to me unless you’re 100% ready, the American League is the spot for you.”

Instilling a line of communication is a facet Smith preaches. Smith is as honest and open with his players as he can be.

“You know, the hard part is there’s decisions in hockey that change every day. You know how you play today affects tomorrow. So. you know my conversation two days ago where I say you’re going get a legitimate chance, and you get a chance and you don’t make good on it, that changes. But I try and communicate constantly. I mean, I don’t want to be a coach that has players guessing – you know as to what I’m thinking. If I need them to get better at something, I think you should tell the player. And I think coaches are getting better as that gap’s narrowing.”

“I still have to be the hammer here and there when they’re not playing hard enough. But if they’re playing hard enough, I’m rooting for them.”